Tape applying movement



Jan. 1, 1957 A. E. JOHNSON 2,776,068

' TAPE APPLYING MOVEMENT Original Filed May 29, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

TAPE APPLYING MOVEMENT Arnold E. Johnson, St. Paul, Minn, assignor to Minnesota Mining 8: Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Original application May 29, 1950, Serial No. 165,035, now Patent No. 2,652,166, dated September 15, 1953. Divided and this application August 27, 1953, Serial No. 376,934

4 Claims. (Cl. 216-21) This invention relates to machines for applying normally tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive tape to objects. It particularly concerns the parts that actually apply the tape, i. e., the tape applying mechanisms or movements.

An objective is to provide such a movement that may be readily adapted -for use in a variety of types of tape applying machines.

The invention provides a movement comprising a pivoted arm, a first roller rotatably mounted at the free end of the arm for conducting tape into adhesive engagement with the surface of an object being taped at a tape applying station, a one-way roller rotatably mounted on the arm adjacent the first roller, a passive tape severing means adjacent the applying station, means for impelli-ng the free end of the arm toward the station with a length of tape extending between the rollers, the non-adhesive side of the tape facing the periphery of the first roller, and means for impelling the tree end of the armaway from the station after a length of tape has been applied to the object, to bring the tape i-nto operative engagement with the severing means at a point between the first roller and the object.

The severing means may be stationary in its normal position adjacent the tape applying station or it may be rendered removable therefrom, as by mounting it on a second pivoted arm. Movements employing a second pivoted arm are broadly claimed in Patent No. 2,652,166 which issued September 15, 1953, on my copendi'ng application Serial No. 165,035, filed May 29, 1950, of which the present application is a division.

An illustrative embodiment is described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a diagram of a tape applying machine; and

Figure 2 is a wiring diagram for the machine of [Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, an arm 100, pivoted about an axis 101, has a first roller 102 rotatably mounted at its free end. A one-way roller 103 is rotatably mounted on the arm in peripheral contact with the first roller '102.

A roll 104 of normally tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 105 is mounted for rotation about an axis 106 at a point removed from the arm 100. The tape is led from the roll along the arm 100 and between the rollers 102 and 103 with its non-adhesive side fiaci-ng the first roller 102 so that when trained around the first roller 102 it will be tacky side out for adherence to the surface of the object 107.

A fixed knife 108 is positioned adjacent the applying station and beyond the first roller 102 in respect to themovement of the object 107 in the direction of the arrow 109.

' United States Patent.

. Patented Jan. 1, 1957 The applying station is the immediate region of the point of contact 110 between the first roller 102 and the object 107.

The free end of the arm is impelled toward the applying station by a solenoid 111. It is impelled away from the station by a spring 112.

The object 107 is propelled through the machine by an endless belt 113 which is continuously driven through conventional means (not shown) by a motor 114.

The closing of a line switch 111'5 starts the motor and places the solenoid 111 in readiness. The object -107 is placed on the moving belt 113 and is thereby propelled in the direction of the arrow 109 along a path leading past the applying station.

When the object contacts the actuating roller 116 of the normally open microswitch 117, the switch is thereby closed, the solenoid 111 is energized, the first roller 102 is brought down upon the object, and tape is applied, as shown in Figure 1, the movement of the object serving to withdraw tape from the roll 104.

A second microswitch 118, normally closed, is positioned so that when a predetermined length of tape has been applied, the object will conmt its actuating roller 1-19 and open the switch 118 to break the solenoid circuit. The spring 112 thereupon impels the free end of the am 100 'away from the station in the direction of the arrow 120 until the tape is drawn against the knife 108 and is thereby severed at a point between the first roller 102 and the object 107.

The arm 100 remains in a raised position until the next succeeding object to be taped has been advanced into contact with the switch-actuating roller 116, whereupon the solenoid is energized and impels the first roller '102 into contact with the object with the tape between them, and the cycle is repeated.

Upon the contact of the roller 102 and the object with the tape between them at the beginning of a cycle, as described in the immediately preceding paragraph, the application of the leading end of the tape to the moving object causes a sudden strain on the surfiace of the object since it requires a relatively hard pull to withdraw tape of the type here employed, from a supply roll thereof, particularly at the start.

Consequently, where the object being taped is wrapped with paper which might tear under the initial strain, or might otherwise be harmed by the sudden pull, or where the tape tends to tear loose at the sudden initial pull, it is desirable to pre-strip; i. e., it is desirable to withdraw a short length of tape from the roll 104 before applying the leading end to the object.

To this end, in the embodiment shown in Figure '1, the roller 103 is equipped with a ratchet means 121 which permits rotation of the roller 103 only in the direction of the .feed of the tape. Additionally, an idler roller 122 is rotatably mounted on an extension 12-3 of the arm 100, the extension being generally opposite the first roller 102 and the one-way roller 103 in respect to the pivot 101. The roller 122 is positioned so as to engage the span of the tape that extends from the supply roll 104 to the rollers 102 and 103 when the spring 1'12 draws the arm i100 away from the applying station at the conclusion of a cycle.

This stroke'ot the am 100 impels the roller 122 downwardly in the direction of the arrow 124. As a result, the leading end of the tape being anchored by its adherence to the one-way roller 103, a short length of tape is withdrawn from the roll 104 so that when the parts return to.

the applying position shown in Figure l at the beginning ofariew cycle, the span of tape 125 from the rollifi t'to the rollers 102 and 103 will be a slack loop. As a result, the moving object is not called upon to withdraw tape from the roll 104 until a substantial length has been applied to the object and the strain on the surface of the object is thus distributed over a wider area.

Whether or not parts such as the arm extension 123 and the idler roller 122 are employed to provide the slaqk loop the span 125, as above de'scribed,' the use 6f a'onewa'y roller 103 (as contrasted with a two-way or free turning roller) has a further advantage. When the machine'is being run rapidly so that the tape 105 is being Withdrawn from the roll 104 ata relatively high rateof speed, the momentum of the roll tends to keep it turning the direction of the arrow 12:6 even after the tape has been cut by the knife 108 and is no longer being withdrawn from the i011. Such a'continued. turning or coasting would ordinarily pull the tape back over the roller toward the roll 1054, turning the roller 103 in acounterclockwise direction, sometimes to such an extent that the leading end of the uncut tape is drawnto the left of the point 110. ln sucha position the tape would not be applied to the object 107 in the succeeding cycle of operation. The ratchet means 121, however, prevents this by preventing counterclockwise turning of the ,roller 103, thereby halting thecoastof the roll 1051, the adhesive side of the tape 105 being in contact with the periphery of the roller 103. i

Any ineans for restricting the ,roller 193 to ,rotation in ohly one direction, may be substituted for the ratchet means 121.

Where an over-running clutch isemployed as the-ratchet means ,121, it may be of a type that permits ias'mallpredeterminable amount of backward turii before locking. S ch afeature permitsthe leadingendof the uncutltape to be drawn back (to the left in Figure 1) tolapoint near to or .at the point 110. This is particularly desirahle where there is a substantial distance between'the .point 1,10,'and.the edge of theknife 108,.forin such case,a relatilve ly long unsupported length of tape would normally egrtepdbeyondttothe rightpf) the point .llfliinmediately following the severing operation.

Arrrachine such as that shown in Figures 1 and 2 has been constructed andsuccessfullyemployed, in the sealing I of paper .wrapped packages of sliced bacon, having the following dimensionsin inches: axis .101 to axis of roller 10;, l /z;. a,xis 101 to axis ofroller r122, 1%;axis-101 to axis-1Q6, 5; axis of roller 116 to axis of roller 1,19, 8; diameter of roller .102, 4', diameter of roller 10?, V2; package of bacon 107, 9 x 6 x 4;.

,I tmill-of coursebe understood that the above dimensions-are;onl yexemplary. They may vary widely within the scopepf .the invention.

The preoise patterns .and the mechanical expedients showniherein arealso exemplary, and may vary widely withimthescope of the invention.

The rollers 102 and 103 described herein as being in peripheralcontact, may instead be separated and not be incontact but be simply adjacent each other, if desired. 'IZhe,-illustrated. peripheral contact however, is preferred.

.For tltemmposes of thisinvention the said rollersare regardedasbeing in peripheral c0ntacteven when tape is-rhetweenxthem,.as long as theybear against each other. Theexpression is thus intended .to include constructions where-.thelrollersthemselves are actually slightly spaced apart to: accommodate thick varieties of. tape.

.-Simi-larly, theroller 102.is regarded as beingin contaofiiatxllt) with.the object.107 being. taped even though the tape lies between them, as long as thenoller bears against the object.

I claim:'

'.1.-.'InapIessure-sensitive adhesive tape applying machine, anapplying movement of.the character described comprisinga. pivoted arm, a first. roller rotatably mounted at the free end of the arm for conducting tape into adhesiveefigagernanrwnn thes'u'rfa'ce of a'n'object' being taped at a tape applying station, a one-way roller rotatably mounted on the arm adjacent the first roller, a passive tape severing means adjacent the tape applying station, means for impelling the free end of the arm toward the station with a length of tape extending between the rollers, the non-adhesive side of the tape facing the periphery of the first roller, and means for impelling the free end of the arm away from the station after a length of tape has been applied to the object, to bring the tape into operative engagement with the passive severing means at a point between the first roller and the object.

-2. A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape applying machine comprising means for advancing an object along a path past a tape applying station, means for rotatably mounting a supply ,roll of tape, a pivoted arm, a first roller rotatably mounted at the free end of the arm for conducting tape into adhesive engagement with a surface of the moving object at the station, a one-way roller rotatably mounted on the arm vadjacent the first roller with the unseverecl withdrawn length of tape extending from the sup ly roll between the rollers, the non-adhesive side of the tape facing the periphery of the first roller, means for impellihg thefree end of the arm toward the station to bring theta peihto adhesive contact with a surface of the obje jct' aptomatically upon the arrival of the object at a given point, a passive seyering means positioned adjacent the applying station at a point which is located beyondthe firstroller in respect ,to the movement of the object when theroller is i'n, ai pply ing position, and means for impelling the free end of the arm away from the station automatically,aftera g'iven length of tape has been applied, to bring the' tap'ejrrtooperativeengagement with the passive severing means at a point hetween the first roller and the object.

3. 1n .apr essure-sensitive adhesive tape applying machiire an applying movement of the character described comprisi ,g l'neans for holding asupply of tape, a pivoted arr rn'a 'rst roller rotatably mounted at the free end of the'ar'm for conducting tape into adhesive engagement with' the surface ofan object being taped at a tape applying station, a one-way roller rotatably mounted on the arm-adjac e tthe first roller, a passive tape severing means adjacent the tape applying station, means for impelling the free end of the arm toward the station with a length of tape extending between the rollers, the non-adhesive side of the tape'faci g the periphery of the first roller, means for impellinjg the free end of the arm away from the station after alength of tape has been applied to the object, to bring the tape into operative engagement with h iaas i roller and the'object, an extension on the arm, and a tape withdrawing roller rotatably mounted on the extension, the position of the tape withdrawing roller and the.

extension being such that the tape withdrawing roller will bear against the span of tape extending from the supply to the first roller and the one-way roller to withdraw a length of'tap'e from the supply during the movement of the free end of the arm away from the station.

4. A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape applying machine comprising means for advancing an object along a path pasta tape applying station, means for rotatably mounting a supply roll of tape, a pivoted arm, a first roller rotatably niounted at the-free end of the arm for conducting tape into adhesive engagement with a surface of the.

moving object at the station, a one-way roller rotatably mounted on the arm adjacent the first roller with the unsevered withdrawn length of tape extending from the supply roll between the rollers, the non-adhesive side of the tape facing the periphery of the first roller, means for impelling the free end of the arm toward the station to bring the tape into adhesive contact with a surface of the object automatically upon the arrival of the object at a given point, a passive severing means positioned adjacent the applying station at a point which is located beve severing means at a point between the first y'ond the first roller in respect to the movement of the to the first roller and the one-way roller to withdraw a object when the roller is in applying position, means for length of tape from the supply roll during the movement impelling the free end of the arm away from the station of the free end of the arm a way from the station. automatically after a given length of tape has been applied, References Cited in the file of this Patent to bring the tape mto operative engagement wlth the 5 passive severing means at a point between the first roller UNITED STATES PATENTS and the object, an extension on the arm, and a tape with- 2,227,171 Anderson Dec. 31, 1940 drawing roller rotatably mounted on the extension, the 2,248,744 Cohen July 8, 1941 position of the tape withdrawing roller and the extensi n 2,512,579 Long June 20, 1950 being such that the tape withdrawing roller will bear 10 2,515,130 Locke et a1. July 11, 1950 against the span of tape extending from the supply roll 2,652,166 Johnson Sept. 15, 1953 

